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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: foot · current · lean · file · scale · nail · bank · track

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. track — to keep track
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. lean — to bend
  5. file — a document
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — electric
  8. track — a path
  9. scale — size or range
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — for money
  12. file — a tool
  13. scale — in music
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. track — a song
  16. lean — thin
  17. foot — a measure
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. current — of water
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. file — a line of people

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com